#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

The Best Pork Chop Recipe E-v-e-r

September 3, 2008 · Narrative

Pork in a PanOr also known as Happy Birthday to The Husband, who turned the big 4-2 today! 

I am not a big fan of pork chops.  Never have been.  I can probably count on one hand how many times I have made them … and still have fingers left over.  But The Husband?  He rather likes them, so for his birthday, it hit our dinner menu.   The first time I had Pan Roasted Pork Chops with Bourbon Sauce, it was nearly three years ago.  Nan had brought them to my old Supper Club, perfect for the Cooking with Alcohol theme we had planned.  Although I loved them then, the recipe got quickly stuffed into my tried-and-true file, never to see the light of day… until today. 

The pork chops in this recipe hang out in a brine with simple ingredients (water, salt and sugar) for an hour or two, and I think the brine here is the key.  The end result produces pork chops that are like no other.  So very tender that it might as well be butter.  With a nice slightly thick sauce with bourbon, garlic and heavy cream, it’s enough to make a reformed pork hater swoon … almost.

On the fence about pork yourself?  Then give this one a try.  You just might change your mind.

Hungry for more pork recipes?
Kalyn’s Kitchen grilled up some pork chops with Soy Sauce, Cumin, Lime and Oregano.
Deb from Smitten Kitchen fell in love with a crunchy baked version.
And Serious Eats combines sweet and savory with a Vietnamese-inspired recipe with caramel sauce.

A year ago today…Mmm, Spanish Flan that I now want to make again since I just saw the picture.
Two years ago today… simple birthday wishes.
Three years ago today… mom on the loose.

Pan Roasted Pork Chops with Bourbon Sauce
Recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home magazine, June 2002

Pork Chop Brine:
Dissolve in one gallon resealable freezer bag:
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
Add:
6 cups ice water

Dissolve salt and sugar in hot water. It helps to set the bag inside a large bowl in case of spills or leaks.  Add ice water to brine.  This will cool the brine quickly.  Add the pork and seal the bag and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.  Just before cooking, dry chops to remove excess brine.

4 1″-thick brined rip chops
2 T olive oil
1 T garlic, chopped
1 T shallot, chopped
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup bourbon
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T apple cider vinegar
2 T heavy cream
Reserved pork chops

Preheat oven to 425.  Season chops with pepper.  Dust lightly with flour.  Brown one side in olive oil over medium-high heat.  Turn, cover and roast in oven for about 10 minutes.  While the chops are in the oven, saute garlic and shallot in 1 T drippings over medium-high heat until soft.  Deglaze pan with bourbon and broth.  Add sugar and vinegar; reduce by half.  Add cream and pork chops to pan and cook for 2 minutes each side until sauce is thick.  Makes 1 cup sauce.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. claire says

    September 4, 2008 at 1:25 am

    Happy B-day to the husband. I do like pork chops but don’t have them often. They remind me of my Papa, though. He made them a lot, and quite well, when we ate with him. I, however, prefer pork loin from the pork family.

    Reply
  2. Ali says

    September 4, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Wow, these look and sound amazing, Cate!! Adding them to the recipe file. :)

    Reply
  3. Jenny says

    September 4, 2008 at 10:25 am

    Wow Cate, this does look like the best pork chop recipe ever! I can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  4. jan says

    September 4, 2008 at 11:24 am

    thanks, cate… your recipe reads like something I can ‘riff’ with. My husband is the family pork-eater and I rarely make anything with it. If I get super-creative and do it with something other than pork, I’ll mention it here.

    Reply
  5. Tami says

    March 29, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Cate — Made these last night and I agree with you, best pork chops ever! I was only able to brine them for an hour and it was successful. My only issue is they were a bit salty (I used sea salt vs kosher).

    Reply
  6. Denise BrownStone says

    August 27, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    this is one of my favorite recipes ever and I can’t find the Cuisine magazine any where in my house. Thanks for recreating. I do cook them in the iron skillet like in the recipe and let them rest while I do the sauce, then return the chops. No matter what they are super good. Thanks again

    Reply
  7. Allison H says

    November 3, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    Wow these were so yummy. Didn’t use the bourbon, just chicken broth and added 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard and used half and half instead of heavy cream (all I had). WOW I am saving this recipe it is great for entertaining!

    Reply
  8. Emily S. says

    January 11, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    My husband couldn’t stop raving about these. He said, “This is the greatest pork chop recipe ever.” I used about half the amount of sea salt in the brine due to a previous comment. I had a few questions about the recipe–when you turn the pork chops, do you brown them on the second side at all, or do you put them straight into the oven? Also, when you put them in the oven, do you put them in a separate pan or start out with an oven-proof skillet? I assumed you put them in a seperate pan for their “oven-time”, due to deglazing the pan while the pork chops are in the oven. Thanks for making me look so good to my husband!

    Reply
  9. Yael says

    September 25, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    Wow cate these look super thanks for sharing. I am going to make them for my man tonight. Pork chops were on sale at HEB giggle giggle

    Reply
  10. tatwood says

    October 25, 2011 at 6:59 am

    Way too much brown sugar in the sauce – 1/4 cup! Much too sweet – it ruined the sauce. Maybe 1 tablespoon would work, but next time I’ll start with a teaspoon.

    Reply
  11. Sean Murphy says

    October 9, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    Very much agree that a 1/4 cup of brown sugar would have been too much. I started with a heaping tablespoon, and it came out perfectly balanced. Great recipe otherwise, big hit with the family. Will make again….soon!

    Reply
  12. JRiley says

    January 25, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    I didn’t brine because I cannot eat much salt but this was absolutely delicious. My family loves pork and I’m always looking for a new recipe. Sure glad I stumbled upon this one!

    Reply
  13. peachy says

    January 28, 2017 at 4:33 am

    EXCELLENT! Followed the recipe exactly and these were a definite winner. Thanks for sharing this one.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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